Aircraft gun and gunner&#39;s seat mount



May 25 1943. 'r. E. HORINCASTLE S SEAT MOUNT Filed Sept. 24, 1940 AIRCRAFT GUN AND GUNNER 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR y 1943- T. E. HORNCASTLE 2,320,238

AIRCRAFT AND GUNNERS SEAT MOUNT Q Filed Sept. 24, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

'May 25, 1943. T.'E. HORNCASTLE I AIRCRAFT GUN AND GUNNERS SEAT MOUNT Filed Sept. 24, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN'I OR mam: 5 l/QQ/VC'ASIZE Gut?! ATT RNEYS May 25, 1943. 1 EfHORNCASTLE 2,320,238

AIRCRAFT GUN AND GUNNERS SEAT MOUNT Fi-led Sept- 2431940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i r INVENTOR THU/WA! E. HOR/VC'AFTLE ATT RNEYS Patented may 25, i943 res 2,329,238 I AIRCRAFT GUN AW GlUNNEltS SEAT MQIUN'IL Application September 24, 194p, Serial No. 358,142

9 Claims.

This invention relates to mounts for guns and gunners seats in aircraft, and has particular reference to the mounting of machine guns and movable gunners seats within relatively narrow cockpits or turrets. or the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved form of machine gun and gun sight mounting for the purpose described. Another object is to provide an improved form of movable seat for an aerial gunner. Another object is to provide an improved mounting device for an aerial machine gun and the seat for the operator thereof. whereby movements of the gun to various positions of elevational adjustment are automatically accompanied by displacement movements of the gunners seat and alterations ofits attitude, in an improved manner. Another object is to- Drovide a gun and gun sight and gunners seat connection device operable to automatically shift the gun sight and the gunners seat relative to the un upon aiming movements of the gun. in an improved manner. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification herein.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of an aircraft gunners turret showing, in side elevation, a machine un and gun sight telescope and gunners seat mounted in accord with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation illusvrating certain corresponding adjusted positions 3f the gun and the gun sight and the gunners seat, as are automatically provided by the inven- :ion.

The drawings illustrate the invention in coniection with a machine gun it] which is mounted .ipon a pair of bearer tubes l2 at opposite sides hereof. The bearer tubes II? are each provided with a pair of brackets i l and i6 extending rigidly .herefrom in spaced relation. The outer ends of he brackets M are pivotally connected at it to .he corresponding upper ends of a pair of frame arms 20 which are arranged in parallel spaced relation and extend substantially vertically as ntegral portions of a transverse mounting tube 22. The tube 22 is provided at its ends with aterall offset portions 241 for pivotal connections it 26 and ill with stationary structural elements ill and 29 mounting the turret support structure, iortions of which are indicated generally by the iumeral 3d. The brackets l6 extend to pivotal :onnections at 32 with a corresponding pair of cars it projecting upwardly from a bar it which is generally disposed transversely in supporting relation with respect to the bearer tubes it and is pivotally connected at a laterally bent end por-' tion by means of a pin ill to an upper end of the fixed member M.

A hydraulic motor illustrated as comprising a cylinder ill and a piston rod 62 is disposed in operative relation between the mounting tube 22 and the bar it in the manner of an expanding strut; and for this purpose the cylinder is pivotally connected at All to .an ear extending rigidly from the tube 22, and the piston rod :32 is pivot-= ally connected at Alli to an ear extending rigidly from the bar Elli. Consequently, upon expansion of the strut lit-t2 the bar 36 is adapted to pivot about the pin it and to raise the brackets it to elevate the forward end of the gun relative to the rear end thereof.

The elements of the mechanism are so proportioned and arranged that whenever the arm til rotates about the axis defined by the connections 26-21? through an arc of say 20 degrees, for example, the un is simultaneously rotated about the axis defined by the connections lt-ld through an arc of about degrees and is simultaneously moved bodily either toward or away from the gunner. For example, when the gun is elevated away from the solid line horizontally trained position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4: to an upwardly vertically aimed attitude as shown in broken lines, the center of rotation of the gun is simultaneously moved toward the gunner and to the left as viewed in the figures. Conversely, as

the gun muzzle is lowered from thevhorizontally aimed position to a depressed or downwardly aimed position as shown by broken lines in Fig. 4, the center of rotation lt-lll of the gun is shifted somewhat forwardly or to the right as viewed in the figures.

The gunners seat W is mounted within a frame comprising uprights b2 transversely connected at their top ends by a tube M and mounted at their lower ends upon a base member Kit. The base member it is pivotally mounted upon a substantially vertical post 58 extending from the lower end of an L-shaped supporting frame till. The vertical arm of the frame Bil is rigidly connected at its upper end to one of the bent end portions 2d of the tube 2%. Consequently, the seat is free to rotate about the axis of the post tit upon the supporting frame fit, but it is otherwise rigidly carried by the supporting frame till which is adapted to pivot about the axis defined by the connections 26-21 coincident with movements of the gun supporting mechanism. Particular attention is called to the fact that the elements supporting the seat 50 move as an integral unit with the tube 22 and the arms 20, and consequently for every movement of the gun about the axis 26-41 the seat will simultaneously move to a corresponding pivoted position. To facilitate such movements of the seat and its supporting structure, a roller 66 is mounted beneath the supporting member 60 to run upon a vertically arcuate track 68 so as to relieve the supporting frame 60 of a substantial portion of the seat loadings; the track 68 being contoured concentrically of the axis defined by the axis'of the connections 26-21 so as to conform to the path of movement of the roller 66 thereabout. Thus, due to the proportioning and arrangement of the connection devices as explained hereinabove, upon rotation of the gun l about its pivot axis l8--l8 through an angular deflection of say 90 degrees, for example, the seat supporting structure will move the seat 50 about the pivot axis 26-21 through an angular deflection .of about 20 degrees, and in the same clockwise direction as viewed in- Figs. 1

and is pivotally connected at 82 to one end of a link 84 which is pivotally connected at its other end to one of the bearer tubes I2, as at 86. The parts of the mechanism are so proportioned and arranged that the pivotal axes I8, 86, i6 and 82 define a parallelogram, and thus the gun sight 10 will at all times .be supported parallel to the gun barrel throughout the full range of vertical adjustments of the gun. However, particular attention is called to the fact that whereas the gun sight 10 is located relatively close to the gun at the solid line positions thereof shown in Figs. 1 and 4, when the gun is elevated as to the broken line vertically aimed position thereof the gun sight (0 is automatically moved to a position substantially spaced from the gun and in line with the corresponding adjusted position of the gunners eyes in view of the accompanying change in position and attitude of the gunners seat. Also, it will be noted that whenever the gun muzzle is depressed below the horizontally trained solid line position thereof as to the lower broken line position of Fig. 4, the gun sight I0 will be automatically displaced inwardly toward the gunner so as to bring the eye piece of the gun sight in line with the corresponding adjusted position of the gunners eyes in view of the accompanying change in position and attitude of the gunners seat.

Thus, it will be understood that as the gun elevation is changed the gun automatically rotates about the axis 26-21, and the gunners seat automatically moves about the pivot axis 26-41 and into angularly adjusted attitudes so as to support the gunner at all times in positions offering maximum comfort and convenience with respect to manipulation of the gun and its control equipment. Simultaneously, the gun sight is automatically pivoted so as to remain parallel to the gun barrel and is simultaneously displaced horizontally with respect to the gun so as to come into line with the adjusted normal line of eye sight of the gunner in conjunction with the adjusted positions of the body and head of the gunner in view of the corresponding seat adjustments.

Also, as shown diagrammatically by Fig. 4. the mount of the invention supports the gun and gun sight devices in such manner as to substantially counterbalance the weight of the gunner and the gunners seat structure about the pivotal axis 26-21 throughout the entire range of elevational adjustments of the mechanism. Also, the gun I0 is pivotally mounted, as at 18-48, at substantially its center of gravity; and thus the structural elements of the mechanism are at all times free moving and the loads upon the actuating elements are substantially uniform and minimum.

It will be understood that power for the actuating mechanism of the device may be applied at any convenient point in any manner desired and may be supplied through use of any of a variety of devices in lieu of the hydraulic motor illustrated herein. It will also be understood that the hydraulic motor illustrated herein may be controlled by any suitable hydraulic control system (not shown) and that a control lever may be conveniently located with respect to the gunner for manipulation to control the fluid pressure operating upon the hydraulic motor in such manner as to procure vertical adjustments of the mechanism 'as described hereinabove for sighting the gun upwardly or downwardly relative to the solid line position thereof in Figs. 1 and 4 and throughout any desired range of elevational adjustments.

It will be understood that the posts 30 illustrated and described hereinabove may be portions of any framing structure of the airplane. but the invention contemplates that the posts 30 preferably comprise uprights extending from a table which is mounted upon the airplane fuselage for rotation about a central vertical axis so that the turret and mounted gun unit may revolve together for transverse adjustments of the gun. To this end means (not shown) for rotating the table 90 are operatively connected thereto and arranged to be controlled by lateral movements of the gunners control lever 80. Thus. the control lever 80 may be oscillated forwardly and backwardly in a vertical plane to procure corresponding upwardly and downwardly elevational adjustments of the gun, while movements of the lever 80 toward one side or the other will procure corresponding rotation of the turret about its vertical axis to obtain corresponding sidewise or traverse adjustments of the gun unit. It is also contemplated that the gun turret may be elevated as a unit into and out of telescopic relation with respect to the airplane fuselage by means of a suitable motor and drive connection not shown) with the table 9|], whereby the turret and gun unit as a whole may be retracted and/or extended relative to the fuselage so as to offer less resistance to the airstream when noncombatant. and so as to be extensible relative to the fusela e to enlarge the scope of gun fire during combat.

Thus, it will be understood that the invention provides a simple and compact mechanism comprising a mounting structure for one or more aerial guns and a gun sight and a gunners seat, so organized and arranged thatsimple manipulation of the gunners control device causes the gun or guns to be trained upon the target and ing the mechanism is disposed in normal cruising attitude. It will also be understood that although the invention has been described herein chiefly as referring to gun installations in airplanes, that it is applicable with equal facility to the mounting of adjustable guns in tanks and parent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Incombination, a support, a frame pivoted upon a substantially horizontal axis to said support, a gunners seat connected to the frame for movement as a unit therewith about said axis, a gun pivoted to the frame upon an axis parallel to the first mentioned axis and to the opposite side of the latter from said seat, and means connecting the gun and said support for swinging the gun about the second mentioned axis when the frame is moved about the first axis.

2. In combination, a support, a frame pivoted upon a substantially horizontal axis to said support, a gunners seat connected to the frame for movement therewith about said axis, and a gun pivoted to the frame upon an axis parallel to the first mentioned axis and to the opposite side of the latter from said seat, and means connecting the gun and said support for swinging the gun about the second mentioned axis through approximately 70 relative to theframe when the latter is moved about the first axis approximately 3. In combination, a support and a frame pivoted thereto upon a substantially horizontal axis, a gunners seat carried by the frame for movement therewith about said axis, a gun pivoted to the frame for movement relative thereto about an axis substantially parallel to the first axis, the gun being substantially diametrically opposed to the gunners seat with respect to the first axis, and linkmeans pivotally connected to the support and to the gun for swinging the latter about the second mentioned axis in the same direction as and to a predetermined greater degree than the frame is swung about the first axis.

4. In combination, a support and a frame pivoted thereto upon a substantially horizontal axis, an arcuate track concentric with said axis, a gunners seat connected to the frame and having supporting means movable upon said track, a gun pivoted to the frame for movement relative thereto about an axis substantially parallel to the first axis, the gun being substantially diametrically opposed to the gunners seat with respect to the first axis, and link means pivotally connected to the support and'to the gun for swinging the latter about the second mentioned axis in the same direction as and to a predetermined greater degree than the frame is swung about the first axis.

parallel to the first mentioned axis, and means connecting the support and the gun for causing movement of the frame about the first mentioned axis when the gun is moved relative to the frame about the second mentioned axis.

, 6. In combination, a support and a frame pivoted theretoupon a substantially horizontal axis, a gunners seat connected to the frame for movement therewith about said axis, a gun pivoted to the frame upon an axis substantially parallel to the first mentioned axis, link means pivoted to the support and to the gun for causing theframe to swing about the first mentioned axis when the gun is moved about the second mentioned axis to change its angle of elevation relative to the support, and a hydraulic motor having a pivoted connection to the frame and to the gun for effecting movements of the frame and gun about said axes.

7. In combination, a support and a frame pivoted thereto upon a substantially horizontal axis, a gunners seat connected to the frame for movement therewith about said axis, a gun pivoted to the frame upon a parallel horizontal axis, means connecting the support and the gun for causing movement of the frame about the first mentioned axis when the gun is moved relative to the frame about said parallel axis, a gun sight pivoted to the frame, and means connecting the gun and the gun sight for maintaining the latter in sighting relation to the gun during pivotal movement of the gun.

8. In combination, a support and a frame pivoted thereto upon a substantially horizontal axis, a gunners seat connected to the frame for movement therewith about said axis, a gun pivoted to the frame upon a parallel axis, means connecting the support and the gun for causing movement of the frame about the first mentioned axis when the gun is moved relative to the frame about said parallel axis, the seat being disposed beneath and to the rear of said parallel axis when the gun is horizontal and being adapted to swing forwardly therebeneath as the gun is elevated, a gun sight pivoted to the frame rearwardly of said parallel axis, and parallel link means connecting the gun and gun sight for maintaining the latter in sighting relation to the gun during pivoted movement ofthe latter.

9. In combination, a support and a frame pivoted thereto upon a substantially horizontal axis, a gunners seat disposed substantially beneath said axis and connected to the frame for movement therewith, a gun connected to said supportand to said frame for angular elevational movement coordinated with movement of the seat about said axis. a gun sight mounted for movement in parallelism with the gun, and means connecting the frame to the gun sight for moving the latter upwardly and rearwardly as the gunners seat is swung forwardly beneath said axis.

THOMAS E. HORNCASTLE. 

